American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual/gestural language and the third most common
language used in America. There are 25 million people in America who are Deaf and
Hard of Hearing. Those Deaf people who are involved in Deaf Culture use ASL to communicate
with one another. ASL has its own grammatical structure, syntax and rules. It cannot
be compared to English. ASL is a vibrant and expressive language that allows the people
who use it in their daily lives to communicate about philosophy, politics, social
issues and many more subjects, much like the way hearing people use and function in
their everyday life with their primary language.

Advantages of Learning ASL

Learning ASL will increase your kinetic skills and create new neural pathways. This
coordination between the body and brain will develop your visual acuity and observational
skills. You will recognize subtle nonverbal behaviors that most hearing people overlook
because they are relying on sounds and tones to interpret the emotional connotations
of an interaction.

Some of you will encounter a Deaf person in your work environment or become friends
with someone who is Deaf. Learning ASL will allow you to communicate with confidence,
so that you do not have to experience the awkwardness of not knowing what to do in
this situation. Most people who learn ASL are able to participate in Deaf social events
and are warmly welcomed into the Deaf Community

Transfer Degree: Associate of Arts Degree

Designed to provide students with a broad liberal arts background of study during
their first and second years of college with an emphasis on American Sign Language.
The state's two-year and four-year schools developed transfer agreements that allow
students from a community college to transfer at least 90 credits (60 semester credits)
to a four-year college or university. The degrees satisfy some - or all - general
requirements for a bachelor's degree.

Faculty

As a student at SCC, you will have the opportunity interact directly with our outstanding,
award-winning faculty who are interested in your education goals. Our faculty are
available to answer your questions.